Covenant House Sleep Out raises more than $300,000 for homeless youth

If you had the choice, would you sleep outside in Anchorage's 20-degree Fahrenheit weather?

Probably not.

But that's exactly what a group did at Covenant House Alaska Thursday night, in the name of raising money for and awareness of youth homelessness in the Last Frontier.

With provided sleeping bags and tents, as well as cardboard boxes and a warm fire to utilize, it may not be equivalent to spending a winter on the streets, but it was an enlightening experience all the same, according to attendees.

"It was very challenging," said Amy Miller, Covenant House Alaska Board Member. "It was cold last night, and I was in tents with a couple of roommates, and it was hard to sleep."

Miller said she was checking her phone every hour or so, looking at the time, and simply trying to stay warm.

"I felt like I was prepared," Miller said, "and I still couldn't get comfortable or warm enough. And these kids don't even have that opportunity, right? They have such limited resources. I imagine their situation is ten times worse.

"These (kids) are the future of our state," she said, "so it's important that each of them gets the opportunity to make improvements in their lives and do the things they want to do."

In all, this year's November sleep out raised more than $300,000 for Covenant House Alaska. More than $120,000 of that was donated by multiple groups and individuals, and gathered by Paul Landes, 2016 Covenant House Sleep Out Chairperson.

Landes said he enlisted the help of family and friends to help raise the most money the sleep out event has seen.

"I'm really proud of the whole team effort that everybody put in," said Landes, who also spent the night outside Thursday night.

Last year, Covenant House Alaska was the game-changer for 3,000 teens and young adults living on the streets. The facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round, and supports at-risk individuals ages 13 through 24.

"One of the things we learned [at last night's vigil] was there's about 2,000 homeless youth in Anchorage," Miller said. "To me, that's just a staggering number. I've lived in communities in Alaska that are about that size."

The facility is always in need of more back-stocked items, particularly Chapstick-type items, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, and cold weather gear, such as boots, hats, coats, scarves and gloves. Pre-lit Christmas trees are also accepted and go to clients who are part of Covenant House Alaska's Transitional Living Programs.

Items can be dropped off at the shelter, 755 A. St. in downtown Anchorage. You can learn more by visiting